Everyone wants to be mates with Scarborough rugby players who tackled burglar

Natalie Richards
Thursday, January 19, 2017 12:04PM

They’ve been hailed Scarborough’s rugby-playing heroes, have become local sport’s hot property and are being stopped for selfies in the street.

Since Kiwis Logan Burke, Tyran and Dylan Davis spectacularly stopped an alleged burglar in his tracks by performing a citizens’ arrest in their unit yesterday, it seems everyone wants to be mates with the well-built trio who have become overnight celebrities.

Almost 400 people tried to befriend the tradies on social media within hours of the them appearing on 7News and they’ve attracted high praise from thousands of people worldwide.

Old school friends, fans and admirers have been vying to get in touch with the men, whose story is being shared on countless internet sites around the world.

And Mr Burke couldn’t be enjoying the attention more.

“There was one dude who asked me for a selfie and said he had seen me on the news. He stopped me at the bus stop,” he said.

“It’s pretty much all been positive. A lot of people have been praising me and congratulating me - the boys are loving it.”

“My parents messaged me and said ‘I’ve seen you on the news bro’ - that was my dad.”

Mr Burke said he was even contacted by a rugby club who asked him to return to the sport - an offer he’s turned down.

“I told them I couldn’t because my shoulder’s not right, bro (but) it’s a good little high for me,” he said.

Police have charged a 30-year-old Scarborough man over the break-in at the Stanley Street residence. He is charged with aggravated burglary, stealing, two counts of common assault and two counts of breaching bail.

As the trio continue to clean the blood from their home after the scuffle, Mr Burke said he hoped to get back to normality once the phone stopped ringing hot.

“I just want us to stay safe, that’s all that matters really,” he said.